Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes in Colorado Doubled in 2017

DENVER (AP) – Overall reports of bias-motivated incidents in Colorado remain flat, but the number of reported anti-Semitic hate crimes in the state doubled in 2017. FBI data collected by the Anti-Defamation League shows that the number of anti-Jewish hate crimes reported in Colorado doubled from six in 2016 to 13 in 2017. The FBI’s annual report follows a spate of incidents in Colorado, including a demonstration Sunday by white nationalists in Denver and uproar over a flag with a swastika that flew outside a home in Fruita last week. Overall, Colorado law enforcement received 106 reports of hate crimes in 2017, up just two reports from 2016 and down one from 2015. Over half were motivated by racism and about a quarter by bias against a specific religion.